The General Administration of Customs of China recently introduced a series of measures to ensure the smooth operation of the 8th China International Import Expo, set to take place in Shanghai from Nov 5-10, 2025. The key support measures are outlined below:

1. Release customs clearance guidance to provide comprehensive support

The GACC has issued detailed customs clearance instructions, along with lists of restricted and prohibited items for inspection and quarantine, to provide comprehensive support for overseas exhibitors attending the 8th CIIE.

2. Establish a permanent institution to respond to needs promptly

The National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) Customs, a division of the Shanghai Customs, serves as a permanent institution for effective customs supervision and service support for the CIIE.

3. Deepen sci-tech application to empower a smart regulatory service model

Big data platforms for cross-border trade management and information technology will be fully leveraged to offer comprehensive regulatory services for exhibitors and exhibits, creating a digital, intelligent, convenient, and intensive regulatory service model for the expo.

4. Deploy personnel to provide on-site services

During the 8th CIIE, the Shanghai Customs will station personnel at the NECC (Shanghai) to provide on-site customs clearance, supervision, consultation, and other services.

5. Provide guarantee to ease burden on overseas exhibitors

For temporary entry exhibits at the CIIE, the NECC (Shanghai) Co Ltd will provide a bank guarantee or tariff guarantee insurance to the Shanghai Customs, covering the required tax guarantees. As a result, overseas exhibitors or their designated freight forwarders at the main venue are exempt from submitting separate tax guarantees for each customs declaration. This exemption is granted upon presentation of the Certificate for Entry Materials at the 8th CIIE in 2025 and the List of Entry Materials at the 8th CIIE in 2025, both issued by the company.

6. Conduct inspections locally to enhance convenience of participation

When the entry of animals, plants, and their products, animal- and plant-derived food, or traditional Chinese medicinal materials for the CIIE requires inspection and quarantine approval, the Shanghai Customs and the relevant authorities are entrusted to handle approval procedures locally, completing them within three working days.

Following the principle of "convenience and operability", the Shanghai Customs is granted the authority to accept and review applications for imported aquatic products, dairy products sold within the exhibition area, and for overseas manufacturers of edible bird's nests. These products and manufacturers are exempt from on-site inspections abroad. Following the review, a temporary registration certificate (only valid for use during the exhibition period within the exhibition area) will be issued by the GACC.

7. Establish dedicated channels for priority processing

The Customs have established VIP courtesy channels, dedicated declaration windows, and specific inspection pathways for CIIE-related goods at major ports. These measures streamline the customs process, such as declaration, inspection, sampling, and testing, enabling rapid clearance and the swift release of goods.

8. Extend the temporary entry period for exhibits under the ATA Carnet

The Customs have aligned the re-export period for temporarily imported goods under the ATA Carnet with the validity period of the carnet itself. This practice is now a standardized measure, simplifying the process for exhibitors.

9. Advance access negotiations to enrich the variety of exhibits

Quarantine access negotiations with CIIE participating countries or regions will be accelerated, the risk assessment progress will be expedited, and the exhibition of agricultural and livestock products with acceptable risk levels will be supported to facilitate international trade and expand the variety of exhibits for the CIIE.

10. Reduce approval time and optimize the quarantine approval process for special items

Health quarantine applications for special entry items for exhibition at the CIIE will be prioritized, shortening the approval time to within three working days for items intended solely for the exhibition at the CIIE. For special temporary entry items for exhibition, the quarantine approval application materials for post-CIIE exit will be simplified.

11. Simplify entry procedures to facilitate exhibition of food and cosmetics

Food and cosmetics intended only for the exhibition are exempt from affixing Chinese labels and undergoing sampling inspections, as well as from verifying consignor and consignee registration certificates. For items intended for trial or sampling, based on safety risk assessments, samples can be taken before the exhibition without the need for Chinese labels. For small-scale on-site sales during the exhibition, Chinese labels are not mandatory.

12. Streamline exit procedures to facilitate post-exhibition handling of exhibits

For temporary entry exhibits for the 8th CIIE (excluding those under the ATA Carnet), items transferred to special customs supervision areas or bonded supervision sites after exhibition — including vehicles, which must go to sites authorized for bonded vehicle warehousing — will be eligible for customs clearance and case closure.

13. Support cross-border e-commerce and promote online-offline integration

After the 8th CIIE concludes, entry exhibits included in the cross-border e-commerce retail import list will be permitted to enter special customs supervision areas or bonded logistics centers (Type B) that are registered with the Customs. Qualified items can be sold under the bonded retail model for cross-border e-commerce.

14. Support exhibition and post-exhibition purchase of cultural relics

Exhibits recognized as cultural relics by China's cultural heritage authorities are allowed to be displayed at the CIIE as temporary entry exhibits or under bonded display arrangements.

If approved for sale to domestic consumers during the exhibition, and meeting criteria of the preferential tax policy for imported exhibits sold during the CIIE, they are eligible for duty-free import under the policy.

15. Prioritize inspection certification for eligible exhibited vehicles

Exhibited vehicles that have completed individual vehicle certification, obtained the China Compulsory Certificate (CCC), and disclosed China VI emission standard information in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution will be given priority for customs inspections and issuance of relevant certificates.

16. Allow non-quarantine-approved animal and plant products, as well as food items, to participate in the CIIE

Animal and plant products, as well as animal- and plant-derived food items, originating from non-epidemic areas but lacking import inspection and quarantine clearance, may be allowed entry for exhibition. If quarantine approval is required, it can be handled under special permission by the Shanghai Customs, with authorization from the GACC.

17. Simplify certificate requirements for some participating products

For animal- and plant-derived food products, when risks of animal and plant epidemic spread have been eliminated, they may be exempt from providing official health certificates or animal and plant quarantine certificates issued by exporting countries or regions.

18. Support normalized bonded display and sales to expand CIIE spillover effects

Enterprises located in customs-registered special customs supervision areas, bonded logistics centers (Type B), or other eligible bonded supervision sites approved by the GACC may move bonded goods outside these areas for display, sale, and related business activities, provided they offer a customs guarantee.

 

Source: General Administration of Customs of China

Note: The above content is for reference only. In case of any discrepancies, the Chinese version shall prevail.

Read more: Customs guide for international exhibitors

Updated in November 2025